Card holder

ABSTRACT

A card holder comprising a container having a bottom wall, end walls, side walls, and a slidably mounted top closure. A card support plate is swingably engaged to said top closure and depends from the normally rearward, marginal portion thereof; said plate having a pair of spaced-apart clip-forming members for retaining a preselected card thereon; there being an arm hingedly engaged to said support plate in its lower end portion for disposition between same and the adjacent side wall of the holder, and being swingable between collapsed condition and extended plate-bracing condition.

United States Patent 1 Cronheim 1 1 CARD HOLDER [76] Inventor: RichardB. Cronheim, 7 Upper Barnes, St. Louis County, Mo. 63124 [22] Filed:Aug. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 392,620

[52] U.S. 206/73, 206/4524, 206/425, 211/11, 248/447, 248/413 [51] Int.Cl 865d l/36, B421 17/06 [58] Field of Search 206/73, 425, 45.24, 45.17;248/453, 461; 211/11; 40/28; 220/38, 41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 930.338 8/1909 Benjamin206/4524 1,502,248 7/1924 Hawley 206/4517 1,840,439 l/1932 Ewell206/4524 1,869,714 8/1932 Rodack 248/453 2,605,892 8/1952 Waber et al220/41 2,792,144 5/1957 Mayer 220/38 2,829,767 4/1958 Scripture 206/73[11] 3,874,501 [451 Apr. 1, 1975 3,180,697 4/1965 Mulch 220/41 3,276.61810/1966 Relich 220/41 3,669,227 6/1972 Alford 190/11 PrimaryExaminerWil1iam 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Bernstein Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Ralph W. Kalish [57] ABSTRACT A card holder comprising acontainer having a bottom wall, end walls, side walls, and a slidablymounted top closure. A card support plate is swingably engaged to saidtop closure and depends from the normally rearward, marginal portionthereof; said plate having a pair of spaced-apart clip-forming membersfor retaining a preselected card thereon; there being an arm hingedlyengaged to said support plate in its lower end portion for dispositionbetween same and the adjacent side wall of the holder, and beingswingable between collapsed condition and extended plate-bracing condinon.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures CARI) HOLDER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention relates in general to card files and, moreparticularly. to new and useful improvements in card holdersincorporating a card support plate.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a cardholder which uniquely embodies a support for a preselected card so as topresent same for ready, repeated reference as desired by the user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a card holderof the type especially useful for reference cards which embodies aneasily operated closure for maintaining the cards against inadvertentsoiling as might occur during card usage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a card holderof the type stated incorporating a card support plate with collapsiblebrace means for presenting said plate at a convenient angle for reviewby the user of the retained card.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a cardholder of the type stated which embodies a card support plate adaptedfor disposition against the confronting portion of the holder when indisuse so as to conduce to an overall compactness.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a card holderof the type stated which may be most economically manufactured: whichconsists of a relatively few sturdy parts conducive to the durability ofthe holder in usage; and which is reliable in use by reason of thesimple yet highly effective mechanical means for producing the relativemovements required.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a cardholder constructed in accordance with and embodying the presentinvention illustrating the same in closed, storage condition.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view, as viewed from the lefthand side ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view.

FIG. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFIG. 3. illustrating the holder as supplied with cards.

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 55 of FIG. 3. illustrating the holder in full open position.

FIG. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially onthe line 55 of FIG. 3, illustrating the holder in closed condition, butwith the support plate in operative position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by referencenumerals to the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, A designates a card holder comprising a containerhaving end walls Ll. front and back side walls 2.2, a base wall 3, and atop closure 4. As shown herein said end walls 1,1, and side walls 2.2incline downwardly and inwardly so that the cross-sectional area of thelower end of holder A is less than that in the upper portion forpurposes presently appearing. Said holder A is adapted primarily toreceive an assembly of cards, such as, for example only, the usual 3 X 5cards which are used for a multiplicity of reference purposes, as forrecipes, addresses, library volumes, etc.: said cards being indicated atBy reason of the contour of container A the area of base wall 3 willdetermine the number of cards r which may be retained by holder A; withthe relatively enlarged upper portion facilitating the separation of thecards for inspection.

Closure 4 is of flat, plate-like form and at its opposite ends isprovided with depending runners 5.5 having inwardly opening guideways6.6. respectively, slid-ably for receiving guides 7.7, respectively,integral with the upper end portions of end walls 1.] and terminating attheir ends spacedly from the edges of the respective walls LI Providedwithin each guidcway 6.6 proximate its forward end or that adjacent tofront side wall 2, is a detent 8.8. respectively, for abutting a stop9.9, respectively, formed at the rearward end of guides 7.7,respectively, to limit the rearward, container opening movement ofclosure 4 (see FIG. 3) as well as to prevent inadvertent displacement ofthe same.

Closure 4 in its rearward edge portion is provided with a pair oflongitudinally spaced-apart depending bearings [0,]0' for journallingtherein of pivot pinforming projections I I,] l respectively, disposedin the upper marginal portion I2 of a support plate 13. Said plate 13 isof substantially like extent and configuration as side wall 2' which itconfronts on its inner surface; and bottom edge 15 so that the same issuspended from closure 4 by said pins lIJl; which establish a pivot axisfor swingable movement thereabout of said plate l3. In the centralbottom marginal portion 15 of plate I3 there is provided a downwardlyopening recess [6 from the opposite sides of which project short hingepins I7.I7' for extension into knuckles ISJR'. respectively, presentedat the lower end of a relatively narrow elongated arm I9 for hingedlymounting same for swinging about the axis developed by said pins l7,l7'.Arm 1) is flat, having a thickness comparable to that of plate 13 and isthus normally disposed upon the inner side of plate I3, and in upwardlyswung position arm 19 is planarwise parallel to support plate 13 againstwhich it abuts; there being an outwardly opening elon gated recess 20formed in the outer face of back wall 2 for receiving said amt I9 whenupwardly swung and with plate 13 disposed against said back wall 2'.Thus recess 20 is of a form complementary to arm I9 for compactlyaccepting same. As support plate 13 is moved away from back wall 2', aswill be shown hereinbelow, said arm I) will swing downwardly and withits hinge-remote, free end traveling progressively along the base ofrecess 20 for ultimate disposition in the position shown in FIGS. 6 and7 for plate-bracing purposes.

Also integrally formed with plate [3 in the lower portion thereof is apair of spaced-apart clips 21.2! projecting slightly outwardly from theouter face of support plate 13.

It will thus be seen that with holder A in closed, storage eondition, asillustrated in FIG. I, support plate 13 will be in normal downwardlydepending disposition in substantially abutting relationship on itsinner face with the outer face of back 2'; and with arm 19 beingupwardly swung and received within recess 20. Further forward movementof closure 4 is prevented by the abutment of support plate 13 againstwall 2' in its upper edge portion. As indicated above, holder A issupplied with an assembly of cards r' having the preselected intelligence thereon.

When the user desires to open holder A for access to cards 0. closure 4is caused to be moved slidingly rearwardly with runners 5,5 travelingrelatively along guides 7.7. respectively; with such opening movementbeing terminated by abutment of detents 8,8 and stops 9,9, respectively,as above described (see FIG. 6). Such rearward sliding movement ofclosure 4 will ncc cssarily cause rearward displacement of support plate13 and thereby arm [9 is released to swing about hinge pins 17,17 withits normally upper free end sliding downwardly along recess 20. Whenclosure 4 has reached its opening limit arm 19 will be in full down warddisposition substantially coplanar with bottom wall 3 (see HO. 6), thusserving to maintain closure 4 in open condition so that the user mayconveniently inspcct cards c for locating a desired one.

After withdrawing the particular desired card, indicated c, the user maythen dispose same upon the outer face of support plate 13, with the samebeing retained within clips 21,21 to facilitate reference thereto, whilethe user is engaged in an activity requir ing intermittent review ofcard c.

To close holder A while card t" is disposed on support plate 13, arm 19may be swung upwardly to permit forward sliding movement of closure 4which will thus carry support plate 13 forwardly. After completing theclosing action the user may dispose arm I) within the lower end ofrecess 20 and at an angle of less than 180 to the horizontal for bracingsupport plate 13 in outwardly swung disposition to allow ease ofreference to card 1" (see FIG. 7).

To restore holder A to fully closed condition, plate 13 is pulledupwardly from the position shown in either FIGS. 6 or 7 to permit arm 19to be swung upwardly as plate 13 is swung downwardly toward back wall 2'for return to the position shown in FIG. 1.

Thus in view of the foregoing it will be seen that the present inventionuniquely and most compactly coniprehends a repository for referencecards as well as a support for presenting a selected card forconvenience of reference. Holder A is especially suited for kitchenusage in that it permits the cook to make repeated review of the card 0as needed during the particular operation while allowing the hands to befree for effecting the necessary manipulations.

Furthermore, such card support plate 13 is adapted for usage even withthe holder A closed so that the interior of the latter is proof againstthe unauthorized entry of foreign matter which might soil or mar cardsc.

The present invention may be fabricated from any suitable, durablematerial but it has been found that the same is particularly amenable toconstruction from plastics, such as acrylic resins, whereby the walls ofholder A may be rendered transparent, if desired.

What is claimed is:

l. A card holder comprising a container having a bottom wall, a pair offront and rear side walls, and a pair of end walls, said container beingnormally open to the top, a closure provided for said normally open topof said container, means slidably mounting said closure on saidcontainer end walls for movement in a plane parallel to the bottom wallbetween container-open and container-closed condition, said closurehaving a portion projecting beyond said rear side wall when said closureis in container-closed condition, and a support plate hingedly engagedto said closure in its rearward pro jecting portion, said support platebeing presented rearwardly of said rear side wall and being swingable ina vertical plane.

2. A card holder as defined in claim I and further characterized by saidfront and rear side walls being inclined inwardly toward said bottomwall, said support plate being substantially of like height as said rearside wall being in close confronting relationship thereto when saidclosure is in container-closed condition, said support plate having aheight greater than the perpendicular distance between the plane of saidclosure and the plane of said bottom wall so that when said closure isin container-open condition, said support will incline rearwardly andoutwardly at its lower end for closure support purposes.

3. A card holder as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by clipmeans provided upon said support plate upon its face remote from therear side wall of said container,

4. A card holder as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by anarm swingably engaged to said support plate for normal dispositionbetween same and the rear side wall of said container for maintainingsaid support plate in selected swung position.

5. A card holder as defined in claim 4 and further characterized by saidarm being swingably mounted upon said support plate in the lower centralportion thereof, said arm being free in its portion remote from itsswingable mounting, there being a recess formed in the rearward,confronting face of said rear side wall of complementary configurationto said arm.

6. A card holder as defined in claim 1 and further characterized bymeans for limiting the containeropening movement of said closure inwhich position said support plate will be commensurately removed fromsaid container rear side wall.

7. A card holder as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by saidarm being flat and having a thickness comparable to that of said supportplate.

8. A card holder comprising a container having a bottom wall, a pair offront and rear side walls, and a pair of end walls, said container beingnormally open to the top, a closure provided for said normally open topof said container, means slidably mounting said closure on saidcontainer end walls for movement in a plane parallel to the bottom wallbetween container-open and container-closed condition, a support platehaving an upper marginal portion being hingedly engaged to said closurein the rearward portion of the latter for normal dependence of saidsupport plate downwardly from said closure in confronting relationshipto the adjacent side wall of said container and being substantiallycoextensive with said side wall, said support plate being swingableabout the established hinge axis between downward position and upwardlyswung position, there being an arm swingably engaged to said supportplate for normal disposition between same and the adjacent side wall ofsaid container for maintaining said support plate in selected swungposition.

9. A card holder as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by saidarm being swingably mounted upon said support plate in its portionremote from its hinged engagement to said closure, said arm being freein its portion remote from its swingable mounting, there being a recessformed in the confronting face of said adjacent side wall of saidcontainer of complemenwhen the latter is in confronting relationship tothe adjacent side wall of said container said arm will he acceptedwithin said recess throughout the length oi said arm.

1. A card holder comprising a container having a bottom wall, a pair offront and rear side walls, and a pair of end walls, said container beingnormally open to the top, a closure provided for said normally open topof said container, means slidably mounting said closure on saidcontainer end walls for movement in a plane parallel to the bottom wallbetween container-open and containerclosed condition, said closurehaving a portion projecting beyond said rear side wall when said closureis in container-closed condition, and a support plate hingedly engagedto said closure in its rearward projecting portion, said support platebeing presented rearwardly of said rear side wall and being swingable ina vertical plane.
 2. A card holder as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by said front and rear side walls being inclined inwardlytoward said bottom wall, said support plate being substantially of likeheigHt as said rear side wall being in close confronting relationshipthereto when said closure is in container-closed condition, said supportplate having a height greater than the perpendicular distance betweenthe plane of said closure and the plane of said bottom wall so that whensaid closure is in container-open condition, said support will inclinerearwardly and outwardly at its lower end for closure support purposes.3. A card holder as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by clipmeans provided upon said support plate upon its face remote from therear side wall of said container.
 4. A card holder as defined in claim 1and further characterized by an arm swingably engaged to said supportplate for normal disposition between same and the rear side wall of saidcontainer for maintaining said support plate in selected swung position.5. A card holder as defined in claim 4 and further characterized by saidarm being swingably mounted upon said support plate in the lower centralportion thereof, said arm being free in its portion remote from itsswingable mounting, there being a recess formed in the rearward,confronting face of said rear side wall of complementary configurationto said arm.
 6. A card holder as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by means for limiting the container-opening movement ofsaid closure in which position said support plate will be commensuratelyremoved from said container rear side wall.
 7. A card holder as definedin claim 6 and further characterized by said arm being flat and having athickness comparable to that of said support plate.
 8. A card holdercomprising a container having a bottom wall, a pair of front and rearside walls, and a pair of end walls, said container being normally opento the top, a closure provided for said normally open top of saidcontainer, means slidably mounting said closure on said container endwalls for movement in a plane parallel to the bottom wall betweencontainer-open and container-closed condition, a support plate having anupper marginal portion being hingedly engaged to said closure in therearward portion of the latter for normal dependence of said supportplate downwardly from said closure in confronting relationship to theadjacent side wall of said container and being substantially coextensivewith said side wall, said support plate being swingable about theestablished hinge axis between downward position and upwardly swungposition, there being an arm swingably engaged to said support plate fornormal disposition between same and the adjacent side wall of saidcontainer for maintaining said support plate in selected swung position.9. A card holder as defined in claim 8 and further characterized by saidarm being swingably mounted upon said support plate in its portionremote from its hinged engagement to said closure, said arm being freein its portion remote from its swingable mounting, there being a recessformed in the confronting face of said adjacent side wall of saidcontainer of complementary configuration to said arm serving as a guidetherefor during movement of said support plate in its swingable action.10. A card holder as defined in claim 9 and further characterized bysaid arm being flat and having a thickness comparable to that of saidsupport plate so that when the latter is in confronting relationship tothe adjacent side wall of said container said arm will be acceptedwithin said recess throughout the length of said arm.